E-books websites
E-books are electronic books. Some require that you download them and use a specialized reader. Others can be read online. Accessibility features such as text-to-speech or enlarged text vary depending on the reader or the website. (E-text moved to its own page).
Web-books
These are online books that cannot be downloaded. You need to read them online while connected to the Internet.
Downloadable E-books
These sites provide copyrighted books to download.
- to read using Adobe Reader or Microsoft Reader (separate download)
- to listen to on an MP3 player
Usually, you need to pay for these books and go through a process to register your reader software to recognize the copyright protection that is built-in with these books.
| Websites offering web-books |
K-2 |
3-5 |
MS |
HS |
search- able |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BookFlix - For grades PreK-3. Scholastic BookFlix is a new online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks from Weston Woods with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. Subscription required. MCPS does not hold a subscription but some individual schools do. Free Trial Available. | x |
x |
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| Chinese Fables from Starfall - Read these stories from ancient China and learn a lesson at the end of each one. If you get stuck on a word, just click it to hear it read out loud. | x |
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| Fables from Aesop - Four animated fables | x |
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| Hedgie Loves to Read by Jan Brett - You can listen online or download a PDF of the entire book. | x |
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| International Children's Digital Library - These books are scanned versions of children's literature in many languages. They do not contain digital text, that is, the computer cannot read the text to you. This is a visual online library only. | x |
x |
x |
x |
|
| Lil Fingers - There are only a few books here, but they are free and appropriate for both very young children as well as emergent readers. | x |
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| Literactive - This website has many animated talking books that are free when you register on their website. Mouse skills are required to play the interactive activities. There is also an online phonics program. | x |
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| MagicKeys Books Page - A collection of online books with animation, interactive features, and sometimes audio. There is no search feature, but the list of books is short and sorted by young, older, and young adult age groups. | x |
x |
x |
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| One More Story - Some MCPS schools have a subscription to One More Story, which provides beautifully presented trade picture books which are read aloud by real voices. Many familiar early childhood titles are included. A home subscription is also affordable. Subscription required. MCPS does not hold a subscription, but some schools do. | x |
x |
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| RIF Reading Planet Read Along Stories and Songs - Animated stories with the text highlighted as it is read in a human voice. Free. Requires Flash. | x |
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| Starfall - Starfall provides interactive books with sound. | x |
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| New! Tarheel Reader - E-books for beginning readers of all ages. You can also make your own book here. Perfect for young children and older individuals with disabilities. The books may be downloaded as slide shows in PowerPoint, Impress, or Flash format. Alternative access methods can be used with the books. | x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Tumble books offers animated web-books as an online subscription. The books are appropriate for younger children as read-alouds. The sentences and word choice are typically appropriate for read-alouds rather than independent reading by emergent readers. You also have the option of downloading a free player and purchasing books individually. Tumblebooks also offers a large-print service for low-vision readers. Subscription required. MCPS does not hold a subscription. | x |
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| UDL Editions by CAST -UDL Editions take advantage of the flexibility of digital media to reach and engage all learners. Leveled supports and the Texthelp Toolbar balance challenge and support for each learner, ages 10 and up. | x |
x |
x |
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| Websites offering copy-protected e-books (text or audio) |
K-2 |
3-5 |
MS |
HS |
able |
| Amazon.com - Amazon sells e-books in Adobe and Microsoft Reader formats. You must read the book in the software program that it was designed for. Both Adobe and Microsoft provide the reader software for free on their websites and both readers support text-to-speech output. | x |
x |
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| Audible.com - Audible.com sells audiobooks that you can download to your computer and then to a portable device like an MP3 player. You can purchase books individually, or sign up as a member. Subscription required. MCPS does not hold a subscription. | x |
only after you join |
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| new! CAST UDL Book Builder Shared Library - These books are made by teachers and parents using accessible strategies. Explore model books and visit the shared library. | x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Netlibrary - You need a Montgomery County Public Library card to log in. Members can download e-books in text and audio formats for loan. When the loan period expires, the book will no longer work. | x |
x |
x |
x |
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Some of the websites listed require a paid subscription. These are noted with Subscription required. MCPS holds a subscription for all sites listed on this page, except where noted. If you are an MCPS teacher, you can obtain login and password information from your school media specialist. In some cases, you will not need to log in at all if you are using an MCPS computer. See other websites to which MCPS holds a subscription.
Share your input. If you have used links on this page, or have other links that you find particularly useful for implementing the concepts of universal design for learning in the area of reading, then please email the webmaster with your comments.
This web page may contain links to one or more pages outside the MCPS Web. MCPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages.
Updated October 22, 2009 | Maintained by by Linda Wilson
